On June 12, the international scientific conference titled “Wheat Improvement through the Application of Digital and GWAS-Based Technologies,” dedicated to the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty” and the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), commenced its work at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of the Ministry of Science and Education.

The event is jointly organized by the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the Department of Plant Breeding at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences (Federal Republic of Germany), and ANAS.

Organized in a hybrid format, the conference has attracted numerous international participants who joined virtually via the Zoom platform.

In her opening speech, Vice-President of ANAS and Director General of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Academician Irada Huseynova, emphasized that this event serves as a significant platform for discussing globally important issues such as sustainable food security, as well as for promoting the application of modern technologies in agriculture. She noted the particular significance of dedicating the international conference to the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty,” highlighting that achieving sustainable development in agriculture and ensuring food security are key components of sovereignty.

The academician also underscored the importance of the “Digital Development Concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” approved by President Ilham Aliyev's Decree dated January 16, 2025. She noted that the concept aims to implement digitalization in a systematic manner, expand the use of high technologies, and deepen comprehensive reforms in this field.

Academician Irada Huseynova reminded attendees of the Presidential Decree dated March 18, 2025, on “Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).” She noted that, according to this decree, the preparation and implementation of the action plan dedicated to the anniversary had been entrusted to ANAS and the Ministry of Science and Education. She emphasized that today’s conference is part of the series of events organized within the framework of ANAS’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

In her speech, Academician Huseynova also addressed the importance of the “Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025–2028,” approved by the President on March 19, 2025. She underlined that this strategic document outlines the key priorities and visions for the development of artificial intelligence technologies in the country, including their application in the agricultural sector.

She went on to highlight the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), successfully hosted by Azerbaijan last year. Within the framework of this prestigious global event, a special session titled “Science and Innovation for Low-Emission and Sustainable Food Systems” was organized jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and other international organizations.

Academician Huseynova recalled that during this event, discussions focused on scientific perspectives on reducing carbon emissions, the impact of global climate change on agriculture, food security challenges in the era of climate change, the influence of climate factors on human health, the resilience of biodiversity within ecosystems, the role of science and innovation in agricultural systems, and the impact of climate change on soil degradation in Azerbaijan.

In concluding her speech, Academician Irada Huseynova noted that the current conference is dedicated to exploring modern approaches for ensuring sustainable food security in the country, particularly through the application of digital technologies and Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)-based methods. She expressed confidence that the presentations, scientific discussions, and collaborative efforts taking place within the framework of the event would contribute significantly to the advancement of relevant scientific fields and lead to concrete scientific and practical outcomes.

Following this, Director of the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry under the Ministry of Agriculture, PhD in Agrarian Sciences and Associate Professor Faig Khudayev, delivered his speech. He emphasized the crucial role of science, advanced technologies, and international collaboration in ensuring food security. Highlighting the growing urgency of this issue amid intensifying global climate change, he stressed the necessity of conducting plant research and scientific breeding activities using innovative methods that meet contemporary challenges, and the importance of developing higher-yielding wheat varieties.

Faig Khudayev also underlined the scientific relevance of the conference, which is focused on innovative approaches to food security in the context of climate change, including digital phenotyping and the application of GWAS-based technologies. He noted the importance of this event in terms of discussing the integration of genomic technologies into breeding programs and sharing practical outcomes within the framework of international cooperation.

At the conference, Associate Professor, PhD in Biology, Javanshir Talai, Head of the Department of Scientific Innovation Research of the Agrarian Innovation Center, Dr. Zakaria Kehel, Head of ICARDA’s Research Group on Genetic Resources Conservation, Characterization, and Utilization, Professor Ali Naz from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and Mr. Javid Bayramli, Director of “Bayramli Group” LLC, also delivered speeches. They shared their perspectives on the focus areas of the international event and wished success to the conference participants.

The event continued with plenary sessions, during which Dr. Zakaria Kehel spoke on “How Can Digital Tools and Genomics Enhance the Efficiency of Breeding Programs?” and Professor Ali Naz gave a talk on “Genome-Wide Association Studies: Evolution-Oriented Approaches in Crop Improvement.” Several other expert presentations were also delivered on related themes.

The conference will proceed with parallel sessions and visual demonstrations of various research areas.

On June 13, a Field Seminar will be held at the Gobustan Regional Experimental Station of the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry.